Slider for fasteners



June 10, 1947; R. c. LEGAT SLVIDER FOR FASTENERS Filed June 8, 1945mmvma ifoafer 6. LEG/77 ATTORNEYS Patented June 10, 1947 SLIDER FORFASTENERS Robert C. Legat, New Britain, Conn., assignor to The G. E.Prentice Mtg. (10., Kensington, Conn, a corporation of ConnecticutApplication June 8, 1945, Serial No. 598,220

This invention relates to separable fasteners of the slide operated typeand more particularly to a slider therefor, embodying locking means forpreventing unintentional movement of the slider along the fastener.

Many forms of locking devices have been in- 13 Claims." (Cl. 24-205.5)

' so that they can come together and interlock corporated in fastenersliders to automatically prevent unintentional movement thereof afterthe operator has movedthe slider on the fastener to the positiondesired. The type of automatic lock which has been the most widelyadopted by the art, comprises generally a spring actuated strong andable to withstand without any danger of failure, the severe strainsimposed on a device of this type during its usage.

Other objects of the invention as well as the advantages and novelfeatures of construction of the locking slider of this invention willappear from the following description thereof when read in connectionwith the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front view of aportion of-a fastener equipped with the slider of this inven-- tion;Fig. 2 is a central, longitudinal cross-section taken along the line2--2 of Fig. 1 and showing the slider locked in position on thefastener;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the relation of the lockmembers and elements when the slider is moved longitudinally downwardlyalong the fastener; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with thepull tab and tab supporting loop removed to afford a front view of theparts beneath such loop; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 'is a plan view of the exterior of a completedblank from which the slider is made; Fig. '7 is a central, longitudinalcross-section taken along the line 1--'! of the slider blank shown inFig. 6; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the interior of the slider blank shownin Fig. 6 and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the rocking member,detached.

In the drawings, there is shown a. conventional fastener structurehaving flexible tape stringers l0 and H with rows of interlockingelements I! and I3, respectively, secured to the opposed edges of suchstringers and constructed and arranged properly in interfingeredrelation. The engagement and disengagement of the interlocking elementsI2 and "name controlled" by the longi-.

tudinal movement of a slider having a bodyportion provided with aconventional Y-shaped interior channel for guiding the fastener elementsinto and out of engagement. I

The body portion of the slider comprisestwo wings or plates I4 and I5which are connected at their upper ends by an integral transverseconnecting or neck portion l6. As is shown in Figs. 6 to 8, the platesor wings l4 and I5 and portion it are made from a single piece' ofmaterial which after it has been completedto the form shown in suchfigures, is bent in the region of neck portion It to bring the plates.and|5 and portion it into the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of thedrawings. The plate l4 constitutes the outer or front wall of the sliderand is disposed in spaced, substantiallyparallel relation to the rearwall or wing 15.- The wings l4 and I5 are provided with lateral guideflanges l1 and I8, respectively, to define the outer margins of theinterior channel through which the interlocking elements travel when theslider is moved longitudinally of the stringers. Adjacent to the neck Itand. extending through openings 4| and 42 in the wings l4 and I5 is adivider or separator l9 which is wedgeeshaped intermediate the two-wings. -It will thus be seen that wings I4, [5, flanges I1 and i8 andseparator 19 define the interior Y-shaped channel composed of a lceneralleg 20 in the lower portion of the slider and two diverging arms 2| and22 in the upper portionof the slider or in the region .of the separatoriii. The portion 43 of the separator l9 which projects through the rearwing I5 is headed over against the exterior surface of such wing. whilethe portion of such separator which projects through the opening in thefront wing I ,4 has integrally formed therewith, a. lug 23 extendinglongitudinally over the front wing [4 throughout substantially theentire length of the slider. The lug 23 is hollowed or recessed out at24 to form a loop 25 which spans the central longitudinal portion ofthefront wing I4 and is secured at its lower end, at 25, to such wing.Extending through the recess 24 is a transverse portion 21 of a pull tab28, such transverse portion 21 being positioned intrmediate the loop 24and a rocker member 29 and having a greater width than thickness (noteFigs. 2 and 3). r

Provided in the frontwing [4, in the region thereof, spanned by.the loop25, is a substantially rectangularly-shaped opening 30 having a widthsubstantially the same as the loop 25 and a length substantially thesame as the longitudinal length of the area of wing l4 spanned by theloop 25 or recess 24. Integrally connected with the material of one sideof such opening 33 is an inwardly projecting fixed locking member or pin3|. The pin 3| is formed by leaving a transverse portion of the materialof wing |4 when the opening 30 is blanked out and then bending suchtransverse portion inwardly until it is disposed at right angles to theinterior surface of wing 4. The locking pin 3| has a straight edgefacing the lower end of the slider and is beveled or inclined at 32 tofacilitate movement of such pin over the interlocking elements when theslider is moved on the stringers to interlock such elements and topresent a pointed tooth which may readily enter into the space betweenadjacent elements to lock the slider in position when the latter isreleased and any strain is placed on the stringers tending to force theslider in a direction to disengage the elements.

Loosely fitted. in the opening 30 is a floating or rocker member 29 ofsubstantially wedge-shaped form and having a substantiallyrectangularlyshaped, fiat outer surface 33 and side surfaces 34 and 35disposed at right angles to such top surface. Provided in the sidesurface 34 of member 29 is a slot orrecess 39 to receive the pin 3| (seeFigs. 2 to 4 of the drawings). 38 of recess 36 diverge inwardly andtheface 39 of recess 36 inclines'from surface 33 inwardly towards sidesurface 35, so that the recess 36 at its inner end has a greatercross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of pin 3|. Thecross-sectional area of recess 36 at its outer end is slightly less thanthe cross-sectional area of pin 3| and the taper of faces 31, 38 and 39of the recess is such that the'member 29 when supported by pin 3|projects slightly beyond the exterior face of wing M. The end faces 44and 45 of member 29 are arcuately-shaped and curvedly converge from theends of outer surface 33 in- .wardly to the inner ends of recess faces31 and 38. The faces 49 and 45 function in the nature of cam surfaces aswill be hereinafter explained. The depth of member 29 is greater thanthe length of pin 3| so that when the former is moved inwardly as far asit will go on the latter so as to be fully seated thereon, the inner endof member 29 projects inwardly further than pin 3|. The width of member29 at the outer surface 33 thereof is slightly less than the width ofopening 39 and the length of surface 33 is such as to enable member 29to rock on the pin 3| to a limited extent, the endwalls of opening 3!!forming stops and defining the range of rocking movement of such member(note Fig. 3 of the drawings) The length of member 29 at its inner end,while less than the length of surface 33, is

The faces 31 and 4 faces 31, 38 and 39 of recess 36, the pin 3| affordsno restriction to the rocking movement of the member 29 within the rangementioned.

The interior surface of the rear wing I is dished out in the regionthereof opposite the member 29 and the inner end of the locking member3| to provide a shallow longitudinally concave recess 40 extending fromthe-separator l9 to the outer or lower edge portion of such wing andextending in the direction of its width to the flanges l8, I9 of suchrear wing (see Fig. 8).

The dished out interior surface portionof the rear wing |5 whichconstitutes the recess 40 is thus intermediate the lower edge portionand the upper portion of the interior surface of the rear wing l5, in alongitudinal direction of the slider,

and intermediate the flanges l8, l8 of such wing,

in a transverse direction of the slider (note Figs. 2 and 3 and Figs. 7and 8 of the drawings). The curvature of the recess 40 and itsdepth-below the pin 3| are such that the space-between its surface andthe inner end of pin or locking member 3| is slightly greater than thewidth of the fastener or interlocking elements. By reason of the recess40 the interlocking elements may pass freely below the pin 3| when theslider is manually moved through the pull tab 29 longitudinally of theslider, while when any force is applied to interlock or disengage theinterlocking elements I2, and I3, the pull tab 28 which is gripped bythe operator, will be iclined at an angle to the front wing |4 oftheslider and the transverse portion 21 thereof will be positioned at thatend of the opening 30 which corresponds to the direction of movement ofthe slider. Thus, if the slider is moved downwardly on the stringers, ina direction to disengage the interlocking elements, the transverseportion 21 of the pull tab will be at the lower end of the opening 30,as is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. On the other hand, if the slideris being moved upwardly on the stringers to interlock the elements, theportion 21 of the pull tab will be positioned at the upper end ofopening 30 during such movement of the slider. As a result of theposition of portion 21 of the lifted pull tab, the member 29 will bepivoted or rocked downwardly by such portion to cause an end face 44 or45 of member 29 to move into a position with respect to pin 3|, where itwill prevent the latter from engaging with the interlocking ele greaterthan the width of the spaces between the a interlocking elements.

It will thus be seen that the construction of the rocking member 29 issuch that it is loosely mounted in the opening 30 and on pin 3|, so

ments and will earn the interlocking elements passing through the sliderdown into the recess 49 where they can freely pass underneath the pin3|. Thus, in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the member 29 has been rocked aboutpin 3| by the transverse portion 21 of thepull tab so that end face .44of member 29 prevents engagement of pin 3| with the interlockingelements passing through the slider in its downward movement on thestringers and cams the elements during such downward movement of theslider down into the recess 40 so that they freely pass under the pin3|. When the desired position of the slider on the stringers is reachedand the pull tab 28 released so that it may assume a positionsubstantially parallel to the exterior surface of wing H (see Fig. 2),

member 29 will return .to its normal condition with respect to pin 3|and due to the tendency of the stringer portions within the slider andbetween the interior surface portionsof the wing Ii, which arelongitudinally separated by the recess III, to return to a straightenedcondition when the force exerted thereon by end face 44 or 45, isremoved, the elements forming part of such stringer portions, will movemember-.29 outwardly to-uncover the locking end of pin 3|. In thiscondition of the parts, the locking end may or may not enter into aspace between adjacent fastener elements. Should however, a force beexerted on the stringers tending to straighten them out within theslider or to move the slider in a direction to disengage the fastenerelements, the effect of such force will be to further straighten out theportions of the stringers between the aforementioned two longitudinallyseparated surface portions of wing I5 within the slider and cause thelockin pin 3|, if it has already not done so, to enter into a spacebetween adjacent fastener elements. Thus, the pin 3| through itsengagement with a side surface of one of such elements will positivelyprevent the slider from moving on the stringers in a direction todisengage the elements.

The greater the force exerted on the stringers tending to move theslider in the opening direction, the more positively and securely willthe slider be locked or prevented against movement in the openingdirection. All that is necessary then to unlock the fastener, is to liftthe pull tab 28, thus causing the transverse portion 21 thereof to camthe member 28 downwardly to cover the locking end of pin 3| andforce theelements inwardly away from engagement therewith. When the pull tab 28is then actuated to move the slider in one direction or the other, themember 29 is again rocked to a position which will prevent engagement ofpin 3| with such elements and permitthe latter to pass readily. beneathsuch pin in the manner explained.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a simple andyet effective automatic locking means which does not require the use ofsprings and which due to its construction will be rugged and will be inno danger of being rendered inoperative during usage of the slider.Furthermore, while I have particularly described and illustrated apreferred embodiment of my invention, it will be evident to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifica-. tions may be madetherein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scopeof the appended claims.

I claim 1. A slider forseparable fasteners comprising a body memberhaving an interior channel, means carried by the slider body andimmovable relative thereto to engage with the fastener elements in suchchannel and lock the slider against movement in one direction, and meansassociated with said locking means and operable to prevent the lockingengagement of said locking means with the fastener elements.

2. A slider for separable fasteners comprising a body member having aninterior channel, means carried by the slider body and immovablerelative thereto to engage with the fastener elements in such channeland lock the slider against movement in one direction, means operable toprevent the locking engagement of said locking means with the fastenerelements, and means controlling the action of said operable means.

. 6 3. A slider for separable fasteners comprising a body member havingan interior-channel, a fixed locking member carried by said body memberand projecting into such channel to engage with the fastener elementsand lock the slider against movement in one direction, a member movablymounted on said body member and con-' 1 structed and arranged to bemoved into a position to prevent the lockin engagement of said .lockingmember with the fastener elements and a pull tab coacting with saidmovable member and operable to move the latter into the said position. sa

4; A slider for separable fasteners comprising a body member having aninterior channel, a

fixed locking member carried by said body member and projecting intosuch channel to engage with thefastener elements, a floating memberhaving a cam surface movably mountedon said body member and constructedand arranged to be moved into a position in which the cam surfacethereof will deflect the fastened elements traveling through the sliderout of locking engagement with said locking member, and a pull tabconstructed and arranged to move said floating member into the saidposition on operation of the slider.

5. A slider for separable fasteners comprising a pull tab having aportion positioned intermediate said float unit and said fixed portion,said pull tab'portion coactlng with said float unit to move the latterinto said position upon actuation of said pull tab to operate theslider.

6. A slider such as defined in claim 5, in which said float unit isloosely mounted for rocking movement in one direction or the otherdepending upon the direction of movement of the slider and has a pair ofoppositely disposed cam surfaces arranged to be brought alternately intocoactive.

relation with said locking member.

7. A slider such as defined in claim 5, in which that wall of theinterior channel opposite said fixed locking member is recessed toprovide a space therebetween greater than the thickness of the fastenerelements.

8. A slider for separablefasteners comprising a pair of plates spaced toreceive the interlocking elements of the fastener, a loop-shaped. pulltab support overlying one of said plates, such plate being provided withan opening beneath said support, a fixed locking member extending from aside of said opening into the space between said plates, a float unitpositioned in said opening and loosely mounted for rocking movementabout said locking member, said fioat unit being constructed andarranged to be moved into a position to prevent the locking engagementof said locking member with the fastener elements,

' and a pull tab having a portion positioned intering walls configuredto support said unit on said member with the outer end of said unitprojecting into the opening of said support and topermit free rockingmovement of said unit within a predetermined range about said lockingmember.

A slider for separable fasteners comprising a pair of plates spaced toreceive the interlocking.elements of the fastener, a loop-shaped pulltab support overlying one of said/plates, such plate being provided withan opening beneath said support, a fixed locking member on one side ofsuch opening and extending from such plate into the space between saidplates, said locking member being adaptedto engage with the fastenerelements in such space to l k the slider against movement, a float unitpositioned in said opening and loosely mounted therein for rockingmovement lengthwise of the slider, said float being constructed andarranged to be moved into a, position to prevent the locking engagelment, of said locking member with the fastener elements, a pull tabhaving a portion positioned intermediate said float unit and saidsupport and operable to cause such portion to rock said float unit into,such position, and means to limit the range of rocking movement of saidfloating unit. 11. A slider for separable fasteners comprising a pair ofplates spaced to receive the interlocking elements of the fastener, aloop-shaped pull tab support overlying one of said plates, such platebeing provided with an opening beneath said support, a fixed lockingmember extending from a side of said opening at a point intermediate theends of the opening, into the space between said plates-float unitpositioned in said opening and loosely mounted for rocking movementabout said locking member, said float unit extending longitudinally ofthe slider and having a recess in one longitudinal side to receive saidlocking member, the depth of said fioat unit being greater than thedepth of said locking member so as to enclose th'e latter when fullyseated on such locking member, a pull tab having a rectangu-,larly-shaped portion positioned intermediate said float-unit and saidsupport, said pulltab being operable to cause such portion to move saidfloat unit to a position where it prevents said locking member fromlockingly engaging with the fastener elements. and. a shallowconcavely-shaped recess on the interior surface of said other plate,

the space between the inner wall of such shallow recess and the innerend of said locking member being greater than the thickness of thefastener elements.

12. A slider forl'separable fasteners comprising a pair of plates spacedto receive the-interlocking elements of a fastener, a fixed lockingmember carried by one of said plates and projecting toward the innersurface of the other plate. said member being adapted to engage with theinterlocking elements between such plates to lock the slider againstmovement, the inner surface of said other plate having twolongitudinally separated surface portions adapted to bring the'interlockingelements into engagement with said locking member, and anintermediate portion positioned opposite the inner end of said lockingmember and spaced from the latter a distance greater than the thicknessof the interlocking elements, a movable member carried by said firstmentioned plate and constructed and arranged to be moved into a positionto shift the interlocking elements into the space between said lockingmember and said intermediate portion of the other plate and out oflocking engagement with said locking member, and means controlling themovement of said movable member.

'13. A slider for separable fasteners comprising a body member having aninterior channel, afixed locking member carried by the slider body andprojecting into said channel, said member being adapted to engage withtheinterlocking elements in said channel to lock the slider againstmovement, the wall of such channel opposite said locking member havingtwo longitudinally separated surface portions adapted to bring theinterlocking elements into engagement with said locking member and anintermediate portion positioned opposite the inner end of said lockingmember and spaced from the latter a distance greater than the thicknessof the interlocking elements,

a movable member carried by the slider body and Certificate ofCorrection 7 e Patent No. 2,421,791. June 10, 1947.

ROBERT C. LEGAT It is hereby certified that error appears in the printedspecification of the above numbered patent requiring correction asfollows: Column 6, line 22, claim 4, for

fastened read fastener; and that the said Letters Patent should be readwith this gcgzlrection therein that the same may conform to the recordof the case in the Patent ce. I

Signed and sealed this 29th day of July, A. D. 1947.

LESLIE FRAZER, First Asaz'ata/nt Uavmnissioher of Patents.

